Where Miss Snark vented her wrath on the hapless world of writers and crushed them to sand beneath her T.Rexual heels of stiletto snark. The blog is dark--no further updates after 5/20/2007.

4.21.2007

It's just words

You've given yourself a challenge when you decide to write a book.

I think it's the art form that looks easiest. After all "it's just words"; how hard can it be. That very simplicity is the challenge. It's just words. No pictures, no sound, no costumes, no actors, no musicians, no frame in a gallery, no special effects wizards at Lucasfilm to build on your artistry to make it complete. Just words.

Every time you read one of my posts about nitwiticisms, or I sound cranky as hell, remember, I would not have a job doing work I love were it not for you.

We, the non-writer people of publishing, don't say that often enough. We certainly add value. We certainly help you. In the end however, this entire industry is an upside down triangle and the point we all balance on is your writing.

We need your words, and we need you to write them. Don't ever forget that.

Exactly. It's never 'just words'. It's the passion behind them. The frustrating thing is, it almost never is in the right order for a publisher/agent. I can honestly say I have an 'audience' for what i write, but it isn't the audience the agent sees. Why? Because I can't sell myself and my work. This is what I find frustrating about the whole business. You, obviously, have to look at it from a business point of view, but when you write a book, one doesn't. Not until, at least, one decides they'd like to share the pearls of wisdom, or simply the adventure. And, whatever genre or literary pearls it is, the whole thing is so damned subjective.

Thanks so much.But will you still be supportive when I title my next book "Rabbitania"?

I'm serious.

I write children's books, which may make it more understandable-- or perhaps it's just that I'm sleep-deprived and well into the final stages of panic over a looming deadline. But this word keeps echoing...

That's something writers need to remember every time we're plagued by the question: "Who am I--to think I could ever write a book, or that anyone would be interested in what I have to say?" If we do our jobs properly...the answer is: someone like you. :)

Decades ago, I saw Nancy Sinatra on Johnny Carson talking about writing a book about her father. She said she thought it would be easy -- after all, she knew the subject -- but writing was the most difficult task she had ever attempted.

I can see the stories in my head. The problem is to get them on the paper. They're just not coming out the same way.

I've published six novels - two of them internationally - and I am currently in one hell of a slump as far as my so-called 'career' goes. It's so nice to hear that what I do (and what so many others do) does have some value. Thank you.

Thank you so much for all your support, even though book publishing challenges hurt at times.

I needed to read your supportive comments this morning to stir up the motivation to start my third novel, after completing two others, not finding an agent yet, and going back to the day job to make ends meet.

It's easy to get caught up in the detailed annoyances and frustrations, but it's nice to step back and take a look at the big picture, and why everyone in the biz works so hard to get books published. Books change lives. They've changed mine.

I appreciate your snarky advice, but I also really like that you come up with these posts once in a while, reminding us of what's important in this business.

the human species is capable of mother teresa to genocide and everything in between... good, bad, and the rest... if you write extremely well, a path will magically appear before you, if you don't, you will be ignored and wither away in a million slush piles...

Next time you're feeling cranky as hell, Miss Snark, watch your Happy Hooker Crapstravaganza video and remember how much you mean to all of us. It's there to remind you that you are appreciated, and we couldn't do what we do without you.

I may not comment often, but I am here reading every day and proud to be a Snarkling.